Supermarket Wars

tomq · Post by **tomq** » Thu 08 May, 2014 2:11 pm

Morrisons have recently been trumpeting 1000's of price reductions. I regularly buy their microwave meals as they are handy at work for lunch as some are quite tasty & at 3 for £5.00 are good value.I purchased some on Monday and the shelf edge marking showed these were included in the price cuts. At the same time the multibuy offer has been removed. This means my ready meals have been reduced from £1.67 to £2.09!!!I think I prefer to spend my money with an organisation that doesn't assume I'm a witless moron who won't notice such chicanery. Another customer gone!

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 08 May, 2014 6:08 pm

The nature of the retail beast is ever changing. Offers such as multibuys are in the main only for a lilmited period, usually when the supermarket has reached an agreement with a supplier.Unfortunately with Morrisons you have to be really on your toes with offers, for instance they have had products with a large eye catching price point "point of sale" card in front, known as a "Barker" stating "2 for £2", yet when you look at the actual price on the shelf edge ticket(the small white ticket with a barcode that sists in the perspex edge of the shelf proper) each item is priced individually at £1.Not exactly breaking any law except the one where you think you will be getting a bargain buying 2 of the item rather than 1.As for the management i can state categorically that they are a shambles at store level. My daughter worked at one for 2 years whilst doing her A levels and they treated her and her colleagues like dirt.One can only assume that this management ethos at store level is cascaded down from the upper tiers of management.Poorly treated staff will lead to poor customer service,and poor customer service will lead to people going elsewhere.A look at Morrisons layesy figure is testament to this

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 08 May, 2014 9:34 pm

cnosni wrote: The nature of the retail beast is ever changing. Offers such as multibuys are in the main only for a lilmited period, usually when the supermarket has reached an agreement with a supplier.Unfortunately with Morrisons you have to be really on your toes with offers, for instance they have had products with a large eye catching price point "point of sale" card in front, known as a "Barker" stating "2 for £2", yet when you look at the actual price on the shelf edge ticket(the small white ticket with a barcode that sists in the perspex edge of the shelf proper) each item is priced individually at £1.Not exactly breaking any law except the one where you think you will be getting a bargain buying 2 of the item rather than 1.As for the management i can state categorically that they are a shambles at store level. My daughter worked at one for 2 years whilst doing her A levels and they treated her and her colleagues like dirt.One can only assume that this management ethos at store level is cascaded down from the upper tiers of management.Poorly treated staff will lead to poor customer service,and poor customer service will lead to people going elsewhere.A look at Morrisons layesy figure is testament to this If you think the management at Morrisons is poor, you should give the Co-op a wide berth...As has been mentioned above, service in general is getting worse and the supermarkets are a prime example. I've had a manager in Asda just walk off while I was talking to her and after a series of events late last year at Tesco I've taken a vow never to darken their door (or website) again...They all talk about customer service, but talk is all it is.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Thu 08 May, 2014 11:43 pm

Interesting stuff folks.Well,against my better nature,I nipped into Morrison's,Hunslet with sister this pm for a few bits.She wanted something that was only available at the large B&M store,nearby on the ind estate.This "alternative" store was quite busy,mainly staffed by very young staff but who were quite helpful.One running furtively to a till some distance away to price an item up.Another nearly breaking his neck in retrieving a heavy object at height without stairs or stool.It seemed a hive of activity.Morrison's however,was like a ghost town.Very few customers.It was clean,tidy and fairly well stocked(for a change) and they have repaired one of the large sets of revolving doors that were out of action these last 3 months.Always one for a bargain,we nipped to the reduced items section.I can't claim any credit for this,but one of the things I have suggested to them was to stop messing about with this section.In the past,they employ a couple of people,gradually marking down stuff all day 'til it ends up about half price.....what a waste of manpower and trying to do this whilst customers are looking on the shelves whilst they put new stickers on the goods.I wrote and said they ought to just get on with it and get shut at a cheap price first off,after all that's the intention.It was all to be used by close of play that day(guideline anyway).It was evident that they'd been doing this in the warehouse too as it all came out neatly stacked into crates and small pallets.No traffic jams.....just quickly put all the pre-labelled stuff out there.Worked a treat......everybody got something of use.One of my bugbears is that they expect you to queue and pay twice if you require anything from wines & spirits(different department/tills)...grrrrrI felt there was some improvement but we didn't really see the much promised cheap basics in the fruit & veg....unless you bought 3 lots of veg(nowt on fruit).Might go in again but as mentioned previously,the new ASDA opens next thursday.As previous posters mention....service is very important and customer's cash or the little pieces of plastic is/are King !

skippy · Post by **skippy** » Fri 09 May, 2014 4:56 pm

raveydavey wrote: As has been said, Morrisons lost their way and it seems to have hit them hard.Their target market was traditionally the cheaper end, but they tried to go upmarket at just the same time that their core shoppers were discovering Aldi and Lidl. Then all the upmarket shoppers discovered the discounters too.Let's be honest - how many typical Morrisons shoppers are interested in being able to choose one of 27 different types of radish exhibited on a very expensive bed of dry ice?They look to be aiming more for price again with their new TV adverts, which is important to most shoppers - how many of us are sick of seeing prices shooting up whilst hearing about so-called 'supermarket wars' that haven't brought us any benefits?There is an Aldi near where I live - when it first opened it was a great secret: good quality cheap food and friendly staff. Now everyone knows about it and the place is packed to the rafters from morning til night and they can't cope - the store is too small, the car park is always full and the staff are run ragged. hi raveydavey, I have sent coun.groves two e-mails about the disababled parking at the new aldi at middleton. its should be where the children's park is at the front, not around the back. I have had one reply to say that she has had a few complaints from people not just me. so come on lets have something done to alter this parking arrangement.

WiggyDiggy · Post by **WiggyDiggy** » Mon 12 May, 2014 4:11 pm

raveydavey wrote: If you think the management at Morrisons is poor, you should give the Co-op a wide berth...As has been mentioned above, service in general is getting worse and the supermarkets are a prime example. I've had a manager in Asda just walk off while I was talking to her and after a series of events late last year at Tesco I've taken a vow never to darken their door (or website) again...They all talk about customer service, but talk is all it is. Co Op Supermarkets? Staff seem very happy at my local one, you know the Co-Op Bank and Co-Op Supermarket are different right?I use Lidl, its the largest nearest supermarket although it isnt the largest Lidl - I miss out of some lines they dont stock. Morrisons I used for a long time but noticed the prices creeping up. In the end I only used it for Booze/Tinned goods and bought everything else from the market.One thing they had always been good at was the late day deals, cheap bread etc so I'd often stop by around 30 mins before closing for that.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Mon 12 May, 2014 9:50 pm

WiggyDiggy wrote: raveydavey wrote: If you think the management at Morrisons is poor, you should give the Co-op a wide berth...As has been mentioned above, service in general is getting worse and the supermarkets are a prime example. I've had a manager in Asda just walk off while I was talking to her and after a series of events late last year at Tesco I've taken a vow never to darken their door (or website) again...They all talk about customer service, but talk is all it is. Co Op Supermarkets? Staff seem very happy at my local one, you know the Co-Op Bank and Co-Op Supermarket are different right?I use Lidl, its the largest nearest supermarket although it isnt the largest Lidl - I miss out of some lines they dont stock. Morrisons I used for a long time but noticed the prices creeping up. In the end I only used it for Booze/Tinned goods and bought everything else from the market.One thing they had always been good at was the late day deals, cheap bread etc so I'd often stop by around 30 mins before closing for that. I briefly worked for the Co-op supermarket (LICS, as was) - so comment on my own experience only. Things may have changed now, but then again looking at the rest of the Co-operative movement...You're right about the 'end of day' deals at Morrisons - I can remember a dozen or more people milling about the hot food counter in the Hunslet branch waiting for the rotisserie chickens and pies to be marked down after 6pm! And finally - read this for the truth behind so called 'supermarket price wars': http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rices.html

WiggyDiggy · Post by **WiggyDiggy** » Tue 13 May, 2014 1:55 pm

raveydavey wrote: I briefly worked for the Co-op supermarket (LICS, as was) - so comment on my own experience only. Things may have changed now, but then again looking at the rest of the Co-operative movement...You're right about the 'end of day' deals at Morrisons - I can remember a dozen or more people milling about the hot food counter in the Hunslet branch waiting for the rotisserie chickens and pies to be marked down after 6pm! And finally - read this for the truth behind so called 'supermarket price wars': http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rices.html Ah yes the cheap chicken, mine was Kirkstall and they'd actually announce it by yelling it lolCo-Op - Thinking about the one where I used to live, all the staff looked miserable probably as a result of it changing to a 24/7 opening Mon - Sat as it was the Cardigan Lane one. I dont shop at a big 4 at all now unless its a 'convenience' one and I am using it for that - convenience as I'm passing. Lidl is the best for me but I'd happily switch to Aldi also.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Tue 13 May, 2014 3:34 pm

Asda closest and so most used. The bread looks great but is not.My favourite in terms of price v quality is Morrisons. All good stuff to my eye and the bread from in-store bakery divine. I've just demolished one of their 'French Style Batard' Aldi & Lidl worth a regular infrequent visit and good for pre notified specials. Think there's a new one going up behind the McDonalds at Kirkstall Cinema complex.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Thu 03 Jul, 2014 11:49 pm

The following clipped e-mail copy is genuine.It was sent today following a visit to ASDA home living at Crown Point.This is a true recount of what goes on in some of these "customer focused" establishments.It happened today.Nobody in the store seemed in the least bit interested.Dear Mr.Lyle, today,I was unfortunate to visit your ADSA living store,a stone's throw from your Home Office at the Crown Point retail park.This was approx 2pm.Our complaint(along with a relative)...we first went upstairs on the escalator,selected a shirt to buy but the queue at the checkout was unacceptable with several people and one member of staff.As if that wasn't [edited for content] enough,I suggested going downstairs to an alternative till.Sure enough,it was much quieter.To the point such ,there were at least 4 members of staff clearly with "nowt" to do whilst the poor staff member upstairs was run off their feet.More to the point..........apart from the female staff on duty clearly just telling the tale( i.e. uninterested in the customers in any way),there was one who clearly felt it was OK to file her nails down for several minutes in full view of any potential customers.We thought this was disgusting....Where were the filings going ???? Believe me,they just weren't bothered.If this is an example of what you expect your customers to put up with then Lord help your company.Don't believe me ? Then,go to the store and review the video.The whole place looks poorly run and full of lax controls all around.All within earshot of the HQ.We certainly won't be going there again.One disgusted customer,The above just goes to show how easily a perception of a business can change rapidly,given extremely poor service.Got to be poor management to blame.